Original subtitles

(quiet wind blowing)

("The World From Above" theme)

(spirited music)

- We begin our journey in the northeast

of Switzerland, at the impressive Rheinau Abbey.

We briefly hop across to Germany

to see the medieval castle ruins at Kussaberg,

before dropping south to the shimmering lake Zurich

and its famous city on the shore.

We move on to Basel, the cultural heart of Switzerland.

And then southward, we find the administrative capital Bern,

whose medieval Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

At Avenches, we visit a Roman amphitheater

which after 2000 years continues to draw

and entertain crowds.

Crossing lake Neuchatel, we end our journey

in a natural park and the staggering cliffs of Creux du Van.

(bright music)

Right on the Swiss border with Germany

lies a masterpiece of Baroque architecture, Rheinau Abbey.

No doubt the Benedictine monks

would have chosen this site on the river Rhine

as much for its beauty as the protection

it offered from attack.

The first construction on the site

is believed to go back to 778.

Centuries later, it came to be known

for its famous library, with over 12,000 volumes,

including ancient and priceless manuscripts.

The Benedictine abbey was dissolved in the 1860s.

All of its precious books were handed over

to the main library at Zurich.

From a place of spiritual healing,

it was transformed to focus on physical health.

It became a hospital.

And much later, a psychiatric clinic.

But medical staff and patients all moved out in 2000

and the building now stands empty.

Just north, over the border in Germany,

we find a haunting echo of times gone by.

The ruined castle at Kussaberg commands a ghostly watch

over its surroundings.

Hilltop castles became fashionable some 900 years ago

when nobles began using them as grand residences.

(majestic music)

In 1634, during the 30 Years War,

the Swedish army was closing in.

Castle troops decided not to let it fall into enemy hands.

So they burned it down themselves.

After the war, there were no funds for its reconstruction

and the landslide soon after sealed its fate.

In the following years, local farmers plundered its stone,

leaving it as we see today.

Back in Switzerland, dark rainclouds gather

over the little town of Wohlen,

sending many of its 15,000 residents

in search of their umbrellas.

Eastwards under clearer skies, we discover

the spectacular Lake Zurich.

It was an important route for transport

and commerce in the past, but is now a magnet

for pleasure seekers and the super rich,

who settle on its northeastern bank,

where tax is low and property prices high.

Hardly surprising when just further along

is one of the world's banking capitals, Zurich.

Also, Switzerland's largest city,

with a population of 400,000.

But while it's synonymous with high finance,

its fascinating and varied history

is sometimes easily overlooked.

Its first big turning point was in the year 1218

when the Holy Roman Emperor declared it

an Imperial Free City, giving it a kind of sovereignty.

The residents showed their pride and independence

by destroying the Imperial palace.

Later in the 1500s, Zurich was a flash point in a tremendous

confrontation sweeping Europe, the Reformation.

In the 20th century, the city managed to survive

pretty much intact, thanks to Swiss neutrality

in both World Wars.

However, this didn't stop Allied planes

bombing in March 1945.

A court later ruled the aerial assault

was in fact accidental due to equipment failure

and poor weather.

As ever, the city moved on.

And today its proud heritage represents

a lot more than banking.

Visitors can take in some 50 museums

and more than 100 art galleries.

And a pulsating nightlife with no official closing time.

Once a year, the entire city is transformed

as hundreds of thousands of partygoers

converge for the famous street parade.

And its cleanliness and efficiency

means Zurich frequently tops the list for quality of life.

On most visitors' itineraries is a boat tour on the lake.

It's about two hours from one end to the other.

But if breathtaking Alpine views aren't your thing,

there are onboard activities catering for every taste.

Like a fondue boat, serving pots of melted cheese,

or one that lays on music and dance.

There are even murder mystery trips,

adding a little excitement to the tour.

Zurich receives around a million visitors each year.

Many of them are whisked in by rail

to the Hauptbahnhof, or main station.

The grand sandstone building sits on Bahnhofstrasse,

literally translating as Station Street.

It's been named the most expensive road

for retail property in the world.

The sheer size of the station isn't surprising,

given Zurich's central position on the continent.

Travelers pour in to visit the nearby Alps

with many en route to locations further east or west

on high speed services.

With almost 3000 trains each day,

the station is one of the busiest in the world,

part of a system including trams that date from the 1880s

that are still present in the cityscape today.

(downbeat electronic music)

Just outside Zurich is Limmattal Marshalling Yard,

one of the biggest of its kind in Europe.

It's a state of the art, fully automated facility.

With the sheer number of trains in Switzerland,

it's not surprising their depots are immense.

Here, 18 tracks fan out to 64 separate yards

where trains can be assembled, maintained, or loaded.

Today, it seems all necessary work has been done

and the locomotives are all out,

busy transporting passengers, goods and materials,

perhaps a testament to legendary Swiss efficiency.

Preserved as a heritage site is the picturesque

Old Town Center of Rheinfelden.

Speculators discovered rich salt deposits here

in the mid 19th century, which transformed

the sleepy habitation into a world famous spa resort.

Rheinfelden sits across the river

from a German town with the same name.

They were both one and the same

before Napoleon set the border in 1802.

Today people are able to move freely

back and forth in car or by foot

with the 150 meter island of Inseli

bearing witness to their passage.

Germans coming across are usually sure

to try famous Swiss beer.

The Feldschlosschen brewery is the country's biggest.

It's been the nation's best selling brew since 1898,

which is why Carlsberg paid almost half a billion dollars

to acquire it in 2000.

Going eastwards, the border peels away from the river Rhine,

allowing the Swiss city of Basel

to straddle not only Germany, but also France.

This place is often seen as the

cultural capital of Switzerland.

It was here in 1460 that its famous university

attracted great minds from all over Europe.

City residents also lay claim to the oldest

public art collection in the world,

dating back to 1662 when the council and university

bought up a rich family's art trove.

After the Reformation, Basel's silk weaving

and dying industries took off

and formed the basis for the chemical

and pharmaceutical companies that bring business here today.

A population of around 190,000 people

makes it Switzerland's third largest city,

with the larger conurbation holding almost a million

Swiss, German and French residents.

This rather unusual arrangement is run

by the Trinational Eurodistrict of Basel.

Courtesy of one of Europe's most famous rivers,

the Rhine, vessels are able to navigate

all the way to the North Sea.

Its 1200 kilometer length has coursed through wars

and formed borders for centuries.

From its Alpine source, Basel

is the first major city it reaches

and where the water shifts north from its westward course.

With some 7000 ships and boats along the Rhine

at any one time, it is one of the world's busiest rivers.

Moving from water to air,

the EuroAirport Basel Mulhouse Freiburg

is actually based on French soil,

but jointly managed by Switzerland.

It opened in 1946 as a powerful symbol

of postwar cooperation.

The French provided the land,

and the Swiss paid the construction costs,

making it one of the few airports run by two countries.

Business suffered after 2001 when the national carrier

Swiss Air was liquidated,

but later recovered with the arrival of low cost airlines.

Today, more than 5 million passengers each year

pass through its terminal.

Basel isn't a hub for air and river transport alone.

Passing through are two motorways,

forming great arteries of central Europe.

The E25 heads south from Holland,

through Belgium, France and Switzerland,

ending up in Sicily via a few ferry rides.

The E35 comes down through Germany and Switzerland,

then passes through northern Italy into Rome.

An integrated transport network

was a founding principle of the European Union

to stimulate the market and allow

the free movement of its citizens.

This rippling, lush countryside is part of Basel-Landschaft,

one of Switzerland's 26 states, known as cantons.

By the year 1900, the region was undergoing

industrialization, with the production

of textiles, metals and chemicals.

But even today, dairy farming, cattle breeding

and fruit growing still bear a reminder

of the region's roots in the soil.

Continuing south into the canton of Solothurn,

we find Neu-Falkenstein Castle,

one of more than 25 fortresses named Falkenstein

in the German speaking world.

Though this one has new in its name,

it's thought to be older than the nearby

Old Falkenstein Castle.

Historians say a noble family built it

in the early 12th century to shore up control

over an important road.

In 1356, the castle was toppled by a heavy earthquake,

but locals managed to put it back together.

Until 400 years later that is,

when angry peasants set it on fire,

ruining it for good.

What is now left, nonetheless, remains

one of Switzerland's most cherished sites.

It's open to the public and available to hire

for special events.

Heading southwest over the rolling farmland,

we approach a ridge that forms part

of the Thal Regional Nature Park.

It's home to the lynx wildcat

and lucky birdwatchers might even spot

a golden eagle swooping through the skies.

Fortress ruins betray the once strategic importance

of this valley as a thoroughfare.

But marauders have been replaced by hikers and cyclists

keen to enjoy the many routes through the park.

We reach the Aare River, which interestingly

starts and ends within landlocked Switzerland.

The covered wooden bridge we see today

was built in the mid 1500s,

though two other bridges are said to have preceded it.

Around the crossing grew the small town

of Wangen an der Aare, access to which was levied

by a toll on users of both the road and the river.

Passing over swathes of farmland,

a sea of urban dwellings takes shape.

The city of Bern.

(stately music)

The Swiss capital was described by

18th century writer Goethe as

"the most beautiful we've ever seen."

Like Zurich, Bern is famed for quality of life,

but its 130,000 residents move to a more relaxed rhythm.

(stately music and birds chirping)

And its charming Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site

with medieval sandstone buildings

and six kilometers of covered walkways.

(stately music)

The jewel in the city's crown is its stunning

Gothic cathedral, Bern Minster.

Though started in 1491, its 100 meter tower

was only finished after 400 years,

making it the tallest cathedral in Switzerland.

In the 20th century, its graveyard was transformed

into a park with chestnut trees and pathways,

providing a fine spot to view the gorgeous Old Town

and the meandering Aare river.

Sweeping westward from the city is the farmland

that's famous for cattle breeding and dairy products,

one specialty being the popular cheese Emmental.

Such fertile soil was in times past

a prize to be won and defended.

In the 14th century, Laupen Castle

was one of a number that aimed to secure

the city of Bern's control over the region.

But such expansion began to worry its neighbors.

In 1339, the fortress defended a ferocious attack

by the mighty Hapsburgs.

Against the odds, Bern emerged victorious

and today Laupen still stands

as a symbol of the city's pride.

Splendidly restored, its magnificent Knights' Hall,

beamed roof and open chimney

are available for visits all year round.

Shimmering into view further west is Lake Murten.

On the southeastern shore, the small town of Murten

is also famous for an historic battle.

It was here in 1476 where the Swiss defeated

the Duke of Burgundy.

After a 13 day siege, an army from neighboring Bern

came to the rescue, slaughtering some 10,000

of the Duke's soldiers.

It's a victory that's still celebrated in June each year.

The medieval town has been preserved

immaculately since that time.

Its fortifications are intact, and its city walls

are the only ones in Switzerland that can be walked

all the way around.

Ironically today, these battlements that once witnessed

horrific scenes of violence now make Murten

a charming destination for tourists.

August enjoys an almost Mediterranean climate,

and with its various festivals,

is a favorite time for visitors and locals.

The events include a series of classical music concerts

in the castle courtyard and Old Town.

There's also an open air cinema,

set against the picturesque backdrop of the lake.

The many ferries and excursions offer a cooling break

from the summer heat.

An hour's ride is enough to reach

the wine growing region of Vully

as well as neighboring lakes that link up by canal.

Just south is Avenches with its famous amphitheater.

2000 years ago, it was the site of Aventicum,

the capital of Roman Switzerland.

This is the country's best preserved amphitheater.

Built around 130 AD, it was then extended

some 35 years later under the reign

of Lucius Verus and Marcus Aurelius.

Every year, the amphitheater packs out

for an opera festival and an open air rock extravaganza.

These are only some of the events

that continue to bring this ancient space to life.

Just west of Lake Murten is its big sister, Neuchatel.

Covering 218 square kilometers,

this is Switzerland's largest body of water.

Its marshy south is a haven for birds,

while on its north shore, vineyards thrive in abundance.

Here in the French speaking region

is where we find the medieval town of Neuchatel.

It prospered in the 1700s as a center for banking,

lace production and watchmaking.

A famous local dish is Fondue Neuchateloise,

which involves dipping cubes of bread into melted cheese.

Fortunately, the lakeside promenade provides

the perfect place to walk off such a hearty meal.

And towering over the houses is the castle

that gives the town its name.

The original structure was built around 1000 years ago

by the King of Burgundy as a present for his wife.

Since then, it's passed through the Hapsburgs,

the French, the Prussians, until finally

settling with the Swiss in 1848.

Next door is the Collegiate Church that's almost as old.

Today it provides a magnificent setting

for the classical music concerts

that are regularly held here.

Further along the lake, we discover a sumptuous surprise

nestled in the woods.

Gorgier Castle.

Most of what we see today was built in 1620.

Along with the impressive outbuildings,

it's recently undergone extensive renovation.

In 2014, the castle was put up for sale

with specs that are simply breathtaking.

The four hectare grounds boast a working drawbridge,

Gothic chapel, and helipad.

The main castle has 23 rooms as well

as a fully refurbished dungeon.

The guide price, a snip at $28 million

for one of the region's finest heritage sites.

The sweeping green vista of Boudry Forest

is just one side to Switzerland's rich landscape.

In this country with elevations ranging from 195 meters

to over 4 and 1/2 thousand above sea level,

flora and fauna change remarkably from region to region.

From fish that teem in rivers and lakes

to land creatures such as otter and boar.

All in all, some 40,000 animal species are native.

And finally, we arrive at the last stop on our route.

Here the forest gives way to the most impressive

natural wonder of western Switzerland, Creux du Van.

Soaring over the valley below, these giant

horseshoe cliffs were formed during the last ice age.

The tremendous force of shifting glaciers

carved and sliced through the ancient Jurassic rock.

What they exposed were layers of limestone,

formed 200 million years ago when this entire area

was one vast tropical ocean.

Today, Creux du Van is a prize stop for hikers

as well as a place of power for mystics

who believe these dizzying cilffs

are positively bursting with cosmic healing energy.

But whatever your leaning, there's no denying,

it's a magical sight and a perfect place

to end this journey.

(triumphant music)

(TVF jingle)